Heavy Heart 2018

I find myself sitting in front of the key board and, once again, I don’t know quite what to say. The recent events in the news, the bombs mailed to an enemies list that included past Presidents, current members of Congress, and a news organization; a shooter who appeared to target only those whose skin contain more melanin than his, and shot and killed two African American grandparents who were grocery shopping; a gunman---spouting conspiracy theories and acting out hate-- entered a synagogue and ruthlessly murdered people at prayer; these acts are beyond imagining, let alone understanding. When the weapons of war are loosed on people at play, in our schools, at prayer; when human life is taken with such utter contempt---it’s easy to fall in to despair. It is easy to say that we live in a sick and twisted world, that things are rotten and getting worse, that the center cannot hold. And while it’s understandable to lose heart and despair, that statement is a Big Fat LIE.

Last October, I was trying to write a column about the Los Vegas Shooter, and I wrote “The world is not a sick and twisted place—that individual was. We don’t know his full story and I won’t use his name---but he is not who we are, his acts do not define Humanity. Humanity is beautiful.

Humanity shines in darkness. Humanity shows up to help. Humanity covers loved ones and strangers alike with their own bodies, a shield made not only of vulnerable flesh and bone but of indestructible, enduring Love. Humanity refuses to leave. Humanity stays with the fallen, giving first aid, carrying others to safety. Humanity lines up at two a.m. to give blood, stands in lines for hours to make that happen. Humanity weeps and mourns and comforts each other.”

It is October, a year later. It is easy to focus on the Darkness, the things that divide us; and when Darkness comes, it is too easy to consider the black and despair. But there is Light, and it destroys the darkness. You just need to look for it, to focus on the Light.

There is a tradition in the Jewish community of performing good works in memory of a lost love one instead of placing flowers. I invite you to fight the darkness by spreading kindness, by doing a good deed, by helping others. Make a point of doing something positive for someone else this week. Fight back against the darkness with Love.

Fred Rogers—Mr. Rogers--- famously said of disasters “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” And that is true. Humanity shows up to help. And that, my friends, is a beautiful, blessed thing. Be what is best about humanity—be a helper, give love, spread kindness.